Bill Whitson

SIKESTON, Mo. -- William A. "Bill" Whitson, 83, of Sikeston died Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009, at Sikeston Convalescent Center.

He was born Sept. 26, 1925, in Ramseytown, N.C., son of David and Queenie Belle Peake Whitson. He first married Lilyan Bartles Feb. 1, 1948, in North Carolina. She died March 19, 1982. He and Joyce Imogene "Jean" Lomax Dixon were married July 31, 1982, in Sikeston. She died Oct. 22, 2002.

Whitson was an industrial engineer and was a department superintendent in the rod wire and cable division at Noranda Aluminum until retiring in the mid-1980s.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and later served in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Whitson was a member of Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and was a former Sunday school teacher. He was a member of VFW, served on Sikeston Board of Adjustments, Sikeston Country Club, and was an avid golfer.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Bridget Whitson of Ballwin, Mo.; a daughter and son-in-law, Melanie and Cliff Lankheit of Jackson; a stepson and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Melinda Dixon of Sikeston; a stepdaughter and son-in-law, Karla Jean and Ben Britt of Ballwin; a sister, Kathy Norris of Spring Hill, Fla.; fiancee, Betty Barnes of Miner, Mo.; four grandchildren; a great-grandson; six stepgrandchildren; and a great-stepgrandson.

He was preceded in death by six brothers, a sister and a stepson.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Blanchard Funeral Chapel in Sikeston.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Mount Calvary Church, with the Rev. John Tarter officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories with full military honors.